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Saturday, August 27, 2016

The Sato Project transports 34 rescued dogs from Puerto Rico to New Jersey

Thirty-four stray dogs, rescued from one of Puerto Rico's most impoverished regions, will be granted new leases on life this weekend thanks to extensive coordination between The Sato Project and global aircraft charter broker Paramount Business Jets (PBJ).

Since 2011, The Sato Project has rescued and rehabilitated over 1,500 dogs from Yabucoa's horrific "Dead Dog Beach." After providing urgently needed veterinary care, project volunteers arrange flights to transport the dogs to the United States for adoption.

When prior arrangements for an August 27 flight fell through, The Sato Project founder Chrissy Beckles reached out to PBJ charter expert Scott Lebovitz with an urgent call for assistance.

"Scott has been amazing throughout this process," Beckles said. "From the beginning it was clear that he wasn't just thinking about finding an aircraft to transport these 34 dogs; he was equally concerned about ensuring their health, comfort, and welfare."

In less than a day, Lebovitz vetted and booked an aircraft operator with considerable experience in transporting live cargo, and arranged a travel schedule to ensure cooler temperatures on the ground for the animals while the selected aircraft made a required fuel-stop enroute to its destination in Morristown, NJ.

Lebovitz noted the particular challenges of arranging this trip compared to PBJ's standard, human clientele. That included working with Beckles on a schematic to arrange the kennels so that each dog's safety and comfort would be preserved onboard the aircraft. He also coordinated with the team to ensure an early-morning departure from San Juan and a timely arrival in Morristown.

"It was also important that the flight land at a smaller airfield, so that precious time wouldn't be lost in a line of other aircraft waiting to taxi to the ramp," he added. "We also had to make sure that the volunteers could drive up to the aircraft to pick up the dogs."

From Morristown, volunteers with The Sato Project will work to find forever homes for the rescued animals. "We fight for these dogs," said Beckles, an amateur boxer and former Golden Gloves champion. "Give me an underdog, and I will hold their head in my hand and ask them to fight. It is a mission of love to find homes for these precious doggies."

The Sato Project is dedicated to rescuing abused and abandoned dogs from Puerto Rico. Since 2011, The Sato Project has been working tirelessly to make lasting change on Puerto Rico's Dead Dog Beach and has rescued over 1,500 dogs, rehabilitating them with the highest standards of veterinary care and placing them in loving homes in the U.S.

Through the gracious support of a nearly all-volunteer team, as well as from such well-known personalities as Georgina Bloomberg, fashion designer Marc Jacobs, and entertainer Rob Thomas, The Sato Project works towards systemic change through education and partnerships on the island. Learn more at www.thesatoproject.org.